Montana Recreation Areas

Directions Drive 4 miles from Almena along U.S. Highway 383 Phone 406-247-7714 Activities HUNTING, WILDLIFE VIEWING Camping Reservations Reserve your campsite at these camping areas: Montana Campgrounds Hiking Trails Looking for nice hiking areas to take a hike? Choose from these scenic hiking trails: Montana Hiking Trails Related Link(s) More Montana Recreation Areas Descrptive Web Site The Almena Diversion Dam is located 8 miles east of Norton, Kansas along the valley of Prairie Dog Creek in north-central Kansas and about 11 miles downstream from Norton Dam. The site includes 130 land acres and 12 water acres. Hunting for pheasant, waterfowl, deer, and dove is available. Prairie Dog State Park and Keith Sebelius Reservoir are nearby. The Almena Unit is part of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program, Kanaska Division. Other information on Kansas recreation.

Directions Big Hole National Battlefield is located on Highway 43 ten miles west of the town of Wisdom in southwestern Montana. Bear Paw Battlefield is located on Route 240 sixteen miles south of the town of Chinook in north-central Montana. Phone (406) 689-3155 Activities HISTORIC & CULTURAL SITE, CAMPING, PICNICKING Camping Reservations Reserve your campsite at these camping areas: Montana Campgrounds Hiking Trails Looking for nice hiking areas to take a hike? Choose from these scenic hiking trails: Montana Hiking Trails Related Link(s) More Montana Recreation Areas Big Hole National Battlefield Official Website Big Hole National Battlefield Map On August 9, 1877 gun shots shattered a chilly dawn on a sleeping camp of Nez Perce. By the time the smoke cleared on August 10, almost 90 Nez Perce were dead along with 31 soldiers and volunteers. Big Hole National Battlefield was created to honor all who were there.

Directions From Terry, travel north on Hwy 253. Turn right on Hwy 200 to Circle, then continue north on Hwy 13 to Wolf Point. The entire route is now a paved highway. Phone 1 (406) 233-2800 Activities AUTO TOURING, CAMPING, FISHING, HIKING, WILDLIFE VIEWING Camping Reservations Reserve your campsite at these camping areas: Montana Campgrounds Hiking Trails Looking for nice hiking areas to take a hike? Choose from these scenic hiking trails: Montana Hiking Trails Related Link(s) More Montana Recreation Areas The 105-mile Big Sky Back Country Byway begins in Terry, MT, and travels north and south covering badlands and rolling prairies. The byway ends in Wolf Point, MT, on the beautiful Missouri River, part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The route is part of the National Scenic Byways Program, linking Terry with Wolf Point. Taking 2 hours one way, you can stop to take a look

Directions Bighorn Canyon has two districts that are separated by a three hour drive. To get to the North District at Fort Smith, MT from Billings,take Interstate 90 south to Hardin, MT. Turn at exit 495 onto State Highway 313 to St. Xavier and then to Fort Smith, Montana. To get to the South District at Lovell, WY from Billings, MT, take Interstate 90 west. Turn at exit 434 at Laurel, MT. Turn onto US 310 East/US 212 South. Turn at US 310 East to Lovell. The visitor center is on the east side of Lovell. Phone (307) 548-5406 Activities AUTO TOURING, BIKING, BOATING, HISTORIC & CULTURAL SITE, CAMPING, FISHING, HIKING, HUNTING, PICNICKING, WILDLIFE VIEWING, PADDLING, SWIMMING Camping Reservations Reserve your campsite at these camping areas: Montana Campgrounds Hiking Trails Looking for nice hiking areas to take a hike? Choose from these scenic hiking trails: Montana Hiking Trails Related Link(s)

Directions Access the Blackfoot River Recreation Corridor twelve miles east of Bonner on Highway 200. A dirt road (not suitable for RVs) follows the river for twenty miles, reconnecting with Highway 200 near Mile Marker 28, six miles east of the junction with Highway 83. Phone 1 (406) 329-3721 Activities BIKING, BOATING, CAMPING, FISHING, HIKING, PICNICKING, WILDLIFE VIEWING Camping Reservations Reserve your campsite at these camping areas: Montana Campgrounds Hiking Trails Looking for nice hiking areas to take a hike? Choose from these scenic hiking trails: Montana Hiking Trails Related Link(s) More Montana Recreation Areas Twelve miles of the lower Blackfoot River flow through public lands only 20 minutes east of Missoula. During the heat of the summer, it is an excellent place to cool off alongside a large portion of the Missoula population. Crowds disappear during the other ten months of the year, and it becomes a great place

Directions Take I-15 south of Dillon and turn east at Monida (on the Montana/Idaho border) on County Road 509 which has widely variable conditions throughout the year depending on weather. (During most winters, the road is not plowed and is impassable except by snowmobile for over 40 miles to the Idaho border.) Watch for access points into the Centennial Mountains from the county road. Lakeview and the Red Rocks Lake National Wildlife Refuge are 27 miles east of Monida. Phone 1 (406) 683-8000 Activities FISHING, HIKING, HORSEBACK RIDING, WILDLIFE VIEWING, PHOTOGRAPHY Camping Reservations Reserve your campsite at these camping areas: Montana Campgrounds Hiking Trails Looking for nice hiking areas to take a hike? Choose from these scenic hiking trails: Montana Hiking Trails Related Link(s) More Montana Recreation Areas flickr – Cenennial Mountains Centennial Mountains – This 28,000-acre mountain range, which forms the boundary between southwest Montana and Idaho, is some

Directions Ennis NFH is located in Madison County, 12 miles southwest of Ennis, Montana, along the northeastern foothills of the Gravelly Range. Phone 406-682-4847 Activities VISITOR CENTER, WILDLIFE VIEWING Camping Reservations Reserve your campsite at these camping areas: Montana Campgrounds Hiking Trails Looking for nice hiking areas to take a hike? Choose from these scenic hiking trails: Montana Hiking Trails Related Link(s) More Montana Recreation Areas Ennis National Fish Hatchery Ennis National Fish Hatchery is different from other hatcheries. Most hatcheries produce fish and stock them into public waters, Ennis Hatchery operates as a broodstock hatchery. A broodstock hatchery specializes in rearing fish to adult size, takes the eggs from the fish, fertilizes them, incubates them and ships them to production hatcheries for rearing. The Ennis Hatchery raises six different strains of rainbow trout. The Ennis Hatchery is located in the Madison Valley about 4 miles from the Madison River.

Directions From Glasgow, MT, take Highway 24 south 17 miles to Fort Peck. Or from Nashua, MT take Highway 117 south 12 miles to Fort Peck. Phone (406) 526-3411 Activities AUTO TOURING, BOATING, CAMPING, FISHING, HIKING, PICNICKING, VISITOR CENTER, WATER SPORTS, WILDLIFE VIEWING, PLAYGROUND PARK SPECIALIZED SPORT SITE, OTHER RECREATION CONCESSION SITE, HOTEL/LODGE/RESORT PRIVATELY OWNED, ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION Camping Reservations Reserve your campsite at these camping areas: Montana Campgrounds DOWNSTREAM Hiking Trails Looking for nice hiking areas to take a hike? Choose from these scenic hiking trails: Montana Hiking Trails Related Link(s) More Montana Recreation Areas Fort Peck Project Website Rock Creek Marina Fort Peck Project Photo Album According to the World Almanac, Fort Peck Dam, MT is the largest embankment dam in the United States with the fifth-largest man-made reservoir. The vast size of Fort Peck Lake and its remoteness from major population centers provides a variety of high quality

Directions From State Highway 200, about 30 miles east of Missoula, turn south between mile markers 22 and 23. From Interstate 90, take either the Drummond or Bearmouth exit and follow old U.S. 10 to the Bear Gulch Road. Phone 406-329-3914 Activities AUTO TOURING, BIKING, BOATING, CLIMBING, HISTORIC & CULTURAL SITE, CAMPING, INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS, FISHING, HIKING, HORSEBACK RIDING, HUNTING, OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE, PICNICKING, WINTER SPORTS, WATER SPORTS, WILDLIFE VIEWING Camping Reservations Reserve your campsite at these camping areas: Montana Campgrounds Hiking Trails Looking for nice hiking areas to take a hike? Choose from these scenic hiking trails: Montana Hiking Trails Related Link(s) More Montana Recreation Areas The 12-mile long Garnet Back Country Byway climbs 2,000 feet through the scenic Garnet Range to Garnet Ghost Town. Thanks to extensive preservation efforts, the 30 buildings in this historic town look much the same as they did in 1895. Visitor Center at Ghost

Directions Floater access is at the south end of the canyon at the Wilderness Boat Launch. Turn east off US Hwy 287 at McAllister, follow the Ennis Lake road to the Wilderness Boat Launch. Hiker access is at the north end of the canyon. Phone 406-683-8000 Activities CAMPING, FISHING, HIKING, PICNICKING, WATER SPORTS, WILDLIFE VIEWING, WILDERNESS, PADDLING Camping Reservations Reserve your campsite at these camping areas: Montana Campgrounds Hiking Trails Looking for nice hiking areas to take a hike? Choose from these scenic hiking trails: Montana Hiking Trails Related Link(s) More Montana Recreation Areas Lee Metcalf Wilderness Lee Metcalf Wilderness Map The Bear Trap Wilderness is one of the four units of the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. The Bear Trap is the first wilderness areas to be managed by the BLM. The 6,347-acre area offers beautiful wilderness scenery plus exciting whitewater rafting featuring the famous Class IV – V Kitchen Sink

Directions From Malta, drive about 40 miles south on US 191. Watch for a sign pointing west toward Zortman, and follow that road about 7 miles, turning at the Camp Creek Campground turnoff. Phone 406-654-5100 Activities CAMPING, FISHING, HIKING, HUNTING, OFF HIGHWAY VEHICLE, PICNICKING Camping Reservations Reserve your campsite at these camping areas: Montana Campgrounds Hiking Trails Looking for nice hiking areas to take a hike? Choose from these scenic hiking trails: Montana Hiking Trails Related Link(s) More Montana Recreation Areas This heavily-timbered, isolated mountain range rises abruptly from the surrounding plains, providing habitat for a unique mix of mountain and prairie wildlife. Many species found infrequently in eastern Montana are found here. Bighorn sheep can often be seen on the south side of Saddle Butte and Silver Peak, especially in winter.

Directions The National Bison Range is located in the Mission Valley of Northwest Montana. Located 50 miles north of Missoula, Montana. Drive to the Refuge by taking Highway 93 north to Ravalli, turning west on Highway 200. Approximately 5 miles from Ravalli is the junction for State Highway 212. Travel north for about 5 miles to the entrance to the Bison Range. There is a sign on Highways 93 and 212 indicating the National Bison Range.If traveling from the north, take either State Highway 35 around the east side of Flathead Lake or Highway 93 around the west side. Proceed south from Polson 10 miles to the junction of Highway 93 with State Highway 212; it is about 13 miles to the entrance. There are signs on Highway 93 indicating the National Bison Range.When traveling from the west, turn north at St. Regis, Montana, off U.S. Interstate 90 onto State

Directions Lake County WPAs and Conservation Easements are located south and southwest of Ronan, Montana. Flathead County WPAs are located south and west of the Kalispell area. Flathead WPA is along the north shoreline of Flathead Lake at the mouth of the Flathead River. Batavia and Smith Lake WPAs are located in Smith Valley west – southwest of Kalispell. Blasdel WPA is located 1э miles north of Flathead Lake. McGregor Meadows WPA is located 28 miles west of Kalispell. Phone 406-644-2211 Activities HISTORIC & CULTURAL SITE, INTERPRETIVE PROGRAMS, FISHING, HUNTING, WILDLIFE VIEWING Camping Reservations Reserve your campsite at these camping areas: Montana Campgrounds Hiking Trails Looking for nice hiking areas to take a hike? Choose from these scenic hiking trails: Montana Hiking Trails Related Link(s) More Montana Recreation Areas The Northwest Montana Wetland Management District (WMD) consists of waterfowl production areas (WPA) ranging in size from 28 to 2,370 acres.

Directions From Malta, drive south on US Highway 191. Follow any of the major gravel roads east off Highway 191. Phone 406-654-5100 Activities FISHING Camping Reservations Reserve your campsite at these camping areas: Montana Campgrounds Hiking Trails Looking for nice hiking areas to take a hike? Choose from these scenic hiking trails: Montana Hiking Trails Related Link(s) More Montana Recreation Areas This large area of rolling prairie with shrub/scrub is a nationally important breeding area for shortgrass bird species, such as mountain plover, burrowing owl, ferruginous hawk, Baird’s sparrow, and Sprague’s pipit. The area’s prairie potholes attract more than 10,000 breeding ducks each year. Wildlife such as deer and antelope frequent the area. In addition, the area contains a concentration of prairie dog towns and is directly adjacent to a reintroduction site for the federally-listed, endangered black-footed ferret.

Directions Public access is available on the north side of East Butte. From US HWY 2, about 2 miles west of Chester, turn north onto Whitlash Road. In Whitlash, turn east onto Black Jack Road, in about 9 miles turn right (south) and park on public lands marked by a sign at the base of the Butte. It is a steep, but beautiful walk from this point. Phone 1 (406) 262-2820 Activities HIKING, HUNTING, WILDLIFE VIEWING Camping Reservations Reserve your campsite at these camping areas: Montana Campgrounds Hiking Trails Looking for nice hiking areas to take a hike? Choose from these scenic hiking trails: Montana Hiking Trails Related Link(s) More Montana Recreation Areas The Sweet Grass Hills have been a prominent landmark of northern Montana since the buffalo days. They rise nearly 3000 feet above the surrounding prairie and are visible for miles. The Hills were created by an igneous

Directions Charles M. Russell NWR is located about 150 miles northeast of Billings, Montana. The headquarters for the Refuge Complex is located in Lewistown. From Great Falls, follow U.S. Highway 87 east for 100 miles to Lewistown. Turn right onto Airport Road. From Billings, follow U.S. Highway 87 north to Grass Range and then west to Lewistown for 130 miles. Turn left onto Airport Road. The Refuge headquarters is located about 1 mile up the road to the left. Three staffed field stations are located around the Refuge. Sand Creek Wildlife Station is located 2 miles south of the Missouri River on the east side of U.S. Highway 191. Jordan Wildlife Station is located south of Montana Highway 200 in the town of Jordan. Fort Peck Wildlife Station is located east of Montana Highway 24 in the town of Fort Peck. Phone 406-538-8706 Activities WILDERNESS Camping Reservations Reserve your campsite

Directions Located 2 miles west of Woodston, KS along U.S. Hwy. 24 in Rooks County, Kansas. Phone 406-657-6218 Activities HUNTING, WINTER SPORTS, WILDLIFE VIEWING Camping Reservations Reserve your campsite at these camping areas: Montana Campgrounds Hiking Trails Looking for nice hiking areas to take a hike? Choose from these scenic hiking trails: Montana Hiking Trails Related Link(s) More Montana Recreation Areas State Website Woodston Diversion Dam is a feature of the PSMBP – Solomon Division – Webster Unit. This area is managed by the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks as a wildlife management area. Site consists of 254 land acres and 10 acres covered by water and wildlife including pheasant, waterfowl, deer, and dove.